Railway-rail joint.



Patented Aug. [4, I900. G WHITMORE RAILWAY RAIL JOINT.

Man. 27, 1899. Renewed May 8, 1900.)

No. 656,07l

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

N0. 656,07l. Patented Aug. 14, I900. I C. WHITMORE.

RAILWAY BAIL JOINT.

on filed Mar. 2'7, 1899. Renewed My 8, 1900.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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ATENT CARLOS OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO JAMES H. BORLAND, OF SAME PLACE.

RAILWAY-RAIL JOlNT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,071, dated August 14, 1900. Application filed March 27, 1899. Renewed May 8, 1900. Serial No. 15,980. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OARLos WHITMORE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway= Rail Joints; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip-v struction and arrangement ofthepartsfas hereinafter more fullyset forth. I

The objects sought to b'e accomplished are.

to provide a simple, rigid, and eflicient'joint for the junction of the rails and to avoid the use of the usual bolts and nuts at present used with what is known as the fish-plate or angle-plate.

In the drawings, Figure lis a'plan' view of a rail-joint construct'ed'and applied in accordance withfthis invention, showing the abutting ends ofthe rails in position. Fig.

2 is a cross-section on the lines. X X, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a side elevation from the outside of.

the rail.

In describing this invention with reference to the drawings distinguishing letters of reference will be assigned to the various parts. To the angle-plate supporting the base and inside tread or flange side of the rail will be assigned the letter A, and to the angle-plate supporting the outside of the rail and engaging the base A of the plate A the letter B. These common letters, strengthened by a numeral, will be assigned to the minor parts of these groups.

The extension A of the plate A extends around and under the base X of the rail. The reinforcement A under the juncture of the abutting ends of the rails is added to increase the rigidity at this point. v

When the angle-plate A and the rail X are in position as above described, the angle-plate B is set in positionunder the tread of the rail and inclosing the web X of the rail, as described in connection with the plate A.

Extending from the outer edge of the plate B downward and inclosing the edge of the plate A is the extension B, which maintains the plate 13 in an upright position and holds it'to its work in connection with the lugs A and spikes C, which are driven to exert a strain inward against the plate B for this purpose. The lugs A are formed on the base A of the plate A, and engage the beveled ends angle-plates at suitable distances for increased crushing strength. As disclosed in Fig. 2, the strengthening-boss A is thrown slightly off center. This is to equalize the strains and to counteract the weakening effect of cuttingin the plate A, as shown in Fig. 1,

to accommodate the plate B; The lugs A and the edges A of the cut-away portion of the baseplate A form shoulders between which the plate B fits, thus preventing longitudinal movement of said plate, the projecting spike-heads holding said plate B against sidewise displacement.

In construction. the whole joint is of malleable casting iron, consisting of the two parts A and B, no securing members other than spikes being used to maintain the angleplates in position. It has been found after the severest tests that this joint properly placed requires little or no attention until the perishing of the rail or tie.

In extreme climates where the expansion and contraction of the rails are considerable it may be found necessary to form a lug extending upward from the plate A between the ends of the rail or some other such means to prevent the rail ends creeping through the joint. This has been found in practice, however, unnecessary in all ordinary uses.

It is claimed that considerable expense can be saved by the use of this rail-joint, the first cost being about the same or very little more than the usual fish-plate and bolts and nuts; and, further, requiring less attention a saving in the maintenance of way is aceomplished.

The malleable casting of which the angleplates here used are formed being more rigid than the wrought-iron fish-plates a more perfect and better-supported joint of the rail is made, accomplishing a substantial saving in Wear and tear on the road-bed and rollingstock.

Having thus described this invention, it is claimed A rail-joint comprising a plate adapted to bear against one side of the rail, an extension upon said plate adapted to extend under and beyond the base of the rail, said extension having lugs thereon, a second plate adapted to bear against the rail on the side opposite to that engaged by the first-mentioned plate, and means for preventing vertical displacement of the plates, the said second plate fitting between the said lugs, whereby spikes engaging the outer side of said second plate will serve with the lugs to secure the said second plate in position; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of February, 1899.

CARLOS WHITMORE. \Vitnesses:

E. F. MURDooK, BALDWIN VALE. 

